Whenever we need a quick, reliable veggie side, this Best Canned Green Bean Recipe always comes through with big flavor and almost no effort. This is the BEST canned green bean recipe because it's cheap, fast, flavorful, and unbelievably easy.
Save This Recipe to Your Inbox
Enter your email and we’ll send this recipe straight to your inbox.
By signing up, you’ll join our email list and can unsubscribe anytime.
With pantry staples and a skillet, you can turn basic green beans into a delicious side dish your family will request often. Perfect for quick, comforting, budget-friendly meals.
Canned green beans don't have to be bland or boring, and this recipe proves it. Seasoning them in a skillet with butter and spices transforms them from simple canned veggies into something warm, savory, and totally crave-worthy, with almost zero effort.
This is one of our go-to canned green bean recipes because it's fast, flexible, and feeds a crowd without breaking the bank. Whether you're cooking for weeknights, holidays, potlucks, or busy seasons, these green beans deliver every time.
When we want to switch things up, we rotate between this recipe and our Easy Canned Corn Recipe just to keep dinner interesting.
Jump to:
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ The Buzz From Readers
"These are the best I've ever eaten! I can't say enough good about them."
- Lynne
💛 Why You'll Love This Recipe
- It's incredibly simple. You only need a can of green beans, butter, and a handful of pantry staple spices. No fancy ingredients, no special equipment. Just a skillet and a can opener.
- It's easy to scale. Need enough for a crowd? Double or triple the recipe, and switch to a larger skillet. For big gatherings, you can even pick up a 10-pound can from Sam's Club (usually Del Monte brand).
- It's customizable. Adjust the seasoning to fit your taste. Add heat, reduce salt, or increase garlic. This recipe is flexible and forgiving, perfect for tailoring to your preferences.
🛒 Ingredients
Canned green beans- Choose your preferred cut (regular, French-style, fancy cut). Lower-sodium varieties give you more control over seasoning.
If you have more green beans, be sure to check out our Sausage Green Bean Potato Casserole and Creamy Turkey Dumpling Soup.
Butter- You can use salted or unsalted butter, depending on what you have on hand. Margarine is also okay to use.
Seasonings- Onion powder, garlic powder, salt, black pepper, and crushed red pepper flakes bring a balanced, savory punch.
See the recipe card below for full ingredients and instructions.
🔀 Substitutions & Variations
Butter: You can use margarine or plant-based butter if desired. Margarine softens the flavor slightly and melts quickly.
Green Beans: Regular cut holds up best, but French-cut works too, just handle them gently to avoid breaking them apart.
Seasonings: Swap crushed red pepper for paprika or smoked paprika for heat-free flavor, or add onion flakes for extra texture.
Add Bacon: Cooking bacon in the skillet first and using the rendered brown bits adds smoky, savory depth. Costco bacon crumbles work well if you want faster prep. If adding bacon, taste before adding salt since bacon is already salty.
💰 Budget-Friendly Tips
Swap butter for margarine. It's still flavorful but slightly cheaper.
Buy canned veggies in bulk from Costco or Sam's Club for the best price per can.
Use generic brands. Store brands taste just as good once seasoned.
Rinse your green beans to reduce sodium without paying extra for "low sodium" labels.
🔪 Instructions for The Best Canned Green Bean Recipe
Step 1: Drain the green beans and rinse them thoroughly under cold water. This removes excess brine and eliminates the metallic "canned" taste.
Step 2: Add olive oil and butter to a large skillet and heat over medium heat until sizzling and melted.
Step 3: Add the green beans to the skillet. Season with salt, pepper, onion powder, garlic powder, and crushed red pepper flakes.
Step 4: Cook uncovered, stirring gently, until fully heated through. This usually takes a few minutes.
Taste and adjust seasonings as needed. Serve warm. Enjoy!
👩🏻🍳 Expert Tips
- Check Labels: Review the sodium content on the back of canned green bean cans at the store.
- Watch for "Organic": Some brands labeled "organic" may have higher sodium levels.
- Rinse: Draining and rinsing beans with water helps remove excess sodium, mostly found in the liquid.
- Handle with Care: Stir green beans gently as they're prone to squishing.
- Preferred Cut: Regular-cut green beans are more forgiving than French-cut ones, but use what you have on hand.
❄️ Storage, Reheating & Make Ahead
Storage: Store leftovers from the canned green bean recipe in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4-5 days.
Reheating: Reheat in the microwave for 30-45 seconds for small portions or in a skillet over medium heat for larger servings.
Make Ahead: You can cook them up to 24 hours in advance and reheat before serving. Add more butter during reheating to refresh flavor.
🥗 Side Dishes or Pairing Ideas
This canned green bean recipe pairs perfectly with hearty dishes like Meatloaf with Ritz Crackers, cozy Mushroom Garlic Spaghetti, bright Lemon Garlic Butter Pasta, or tender Honey Mustard Pork Shoulder, making them a versatile side for busy weeknights or family dinners.
- Mushroom Garlic SpaghettiRecipe $4.37 / Serving $1.09
- Lemon Garlic Butter PastaRecipe $2.82 / Serving $0.47
- Meatloaf with Ritz CrackersRecipe $7.59 / Serving $1.27
- Honey Mustard Pork ShoulderRecipe $15.13 / Serving $1.51
❓ Recipe FAQs
Here are the most common questions about making the Best Canned Green Bean Recipe at home.
Green beans are full of great vitamins and nutrients like vitamin K, calcium, potassium, fiber, and folic acid. Canned veggies can be just as healthy and nutritious as fresh or frozen veggies because canning helps to preserve these qualities.
You don't "have to" rinse your green beans, but I recommend doing it whenever a recipe specifically asks for it (like this one does). This helps to improve the flavor and helps the green beans to retain shape when cooked.
By adding flavors! If you simply reheat a can of green beans without adding anything to it, there's a good chance no one will want to eat it as-is. But, if we add salt, pepper, and a few more spices to it, we can really have a delicious dish everyone will enjoy.
There are roughly 2 cups of cut green beans in a 15 ounce can. There's also about ¾ cups of liquid in the can. Note that the volume will vary from can to can so these numbers are estimates and not exact.
🍽️ More Recipes You'll Love
- Air Fryer Canned Green BeansRecipe $1.79 / Serving $0.45
- Cast Iron Green BeansRecipe $2.34 / Serving $0.39
- Roasted Frozen Green BeansRecipe $1.37 / Serving $0.27
- Sausage Green Bean Potato CasseroleRecipe $9.37 / Serving $1.56
🐝 If you tried this The Best Canned Green Bean Recipe, please leave a ⭐️ star rating and share your buzz in the 💬 comments below. I'd truly appreciate it!
📖 Recipe
The Best Canned Green Bean Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil - ($0.14)
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter - ($0.25)
- 1 can (15 ounces) green beans, drained and rinsed - ($0.64)
- ½ teaspoon onion powder - ($0.04)
- ¼ teaspoon salt - ($0.01)
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper - ($0.02)
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder - ($0.02)
- ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes, optional - ($0.02)
Instructions
- Prep. Drain and rinse the green beans under cold water to remove excess brine.
- Heat. Heat the olive oil and butter in a large skillet over medium heat until melted and lightly sizzling.
- Cook. Add the green beans, onion powder, salt, black pepper, garlic powder, and red pepper flakes if using. Cook uncovered, stirring gently, until heated through.
- Adjust. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.
Notes
- Flavor Boost. Add cooked bacon or bacon bits, but reduce the added salt if using.
- Sodium Control. Always drain and rinse canned green beans, and use low-sodium beans if available.
- Handling. Stir gently to prevent breaking the beans.
- Storage & Reheating. Refrigerate leftovers for 4 to 5 days and reheat on the stovetop or in the microwave.
Nutritional Information
Save This Recipe to Your Inbox
Enter your email and we'll send this recipe straight to your inbox.
By signing up, you'll join our email list and can unsubscribe anytime.
Betty Hudson says
Since you're rinsing the green beans what are you putting in them to keep them from sticking to the pot as their cooking i didn't see where you added anything but the seasoning
Nicole Durham says
The recipe says to add 1 Tablespoon of olive oil and 2 Tablespoons of butter to the skillet before adding the green beans and seasonings. Those oils/fats help to prevent sticking while helping the seasonings to adhere to the beans. I hope this helps! 🙂
Aria says
I thought I hated green beans until I had some well seasoned ones. I currently cook for my Dad and he loves them. Found this recipe, and I now make them twice a week! Still really good even with less fat, though I always use some of at least one sort. Thank you!!!
Marie says
I thought I would like this recipe when I read it. I always read recipe reviews, when trying a new recipe.
After reading the reviews, I made the recipe using 2 cans of green beans and the amount of spices as written for using 1 can of greens. The green beans were a hit. One reviewer shared that she always had green beans left at the end of the meal, not anymore since making them using this recipe.
I agree 💯. Thank you for sharing your green bean recipe.
BeeyondCereal says
Glad you liked them!
Susan Whatley says
This is a great recipe! Put together in about 10-15 minutes. Grandkids who said, "I don't like green beans" asked for seconds. Husband said, "Doesn't taste like canned at all." Will definitely make again. Thank you!!
BeeyondCereal says
Such a high compliment!
Julie Williams says
I make this recipe but I also add diced onion and minced garlic to mine. And I don't add regular salt because I use garlic salt to cook with. I do add black pepper I've never tried adding the red pepper flakes but I'm going to try that next time I make it. My husband really loves it.
Lynne says
These are the best I've ever eaten! I can't say enough good about them.
Jen Menichini says
Have made these a few times now! They are fantastic! I usually have canned green beans on hand but tonight I only had 2 bags of fresh. I doubled the recipe and they came out fantastic! One of our faves!! ❤️
BeeyondCereal says
That's awesome! I'm so glad you like it!
Kim says
Made canned green beans taste fancy and yummy without the canned flavor!
Looks like a lot of seasoning, but it’s perfect!
BeeyondCereal says
So glad you liked it!
Melinda says
Try adding Parmesan/Romano cheese
to the dish. Kids will love it!
Susan Whatley says
Made it for a second time tonight with a couple of tweaks. I reduced the butter to 1 tablespoon and I added 2 tablespoons of bacon bits. This is an excellent recipe! I can't believe how easy it is, how the beans do not taste canned, and, most importantly, how much everyone loves it!! Thank you for a great "go to" side dish.
BeeyondCereal says
So glad you like them!
Elizabeth Rayborn says
I've often wondered if when draining the beans are you losing much of the nutrients?
Nicole Durham says
When you drain the liquid you do reduce the nutrients by about 25% but you also reduce the sodium by roughly the same amount (assuming you aren't using the no salt added canned green beans) so it's one of those things where you have to decide what you feel more comfortable with. You can also add other veggies to the plate to help add more nutrients to the meal to replace what was lost.
Carol Merrill says
I used 2 cans of drained green beans but used the recipe as for one can. Turned out so good!!
Nicole Durham says
So glad you enjoyed it! 🙂
Ann says
Made these today and loved them! I added a few bacon bits, left out the red pepper flakes, and cut back the onion powder to 1/4 tsp. We usually have leftover green beans but not today! I’ll never just heat up a can of green beans again! Wonder how using fresh green beans will work instead of canned.
Nicole Durham says
Yay, I'm so glad you liked it!
Juanita A Allard says
Made these tonight, yes I did add crumbled bacon. I normally do not like canned anything but loved these and how simple this recipe actually is!
I took a bag of microwavable potatoes, seasoned them and put them together.
Thank you for this recipe,
Juanita
Karen says
I have made a version of this for years. I fry the beans in bacon grease with diced onion until wilted,, At the end I add drained canned mushrooms and crumbled bacon if I have it but I always have bacon grease. I don’t season too much because we like the flavor of the green beans.
Nicole Durham says
You had me at bacon grease. Adding bacon and onions sounds like a wonderful addition! 🙂
Laurel says
Using 1/4 teaspoon of red pepper flakes was too much for me. Too spicy. Next time I will use just a pinch. Otherwise, I loved the recipe. Thanks for posting.
Lael White says
I made this recipe yesterday. It is a keeper! My super picky husband who hates new things liked it,
Nicole Durham says
I'm so glad to hear this! 🙂
Samantha Coleman says
I absolutely love the flavor and the soft kick it gives! Only wish my family felt the same way as they found it "too spicy" but they find lots of things too spicy. Will make again even if its just for myself!
Nicole Durham says
Haha my kids make that same complaint. So glad you enjoyed it though!
Jill says
I made these but did not add bacon. I didn’t use a strainer. I just rinsed them while still in the can. They were delicious! I will definitely make them again. I will try them with bacon, but they don’t really need it!
Ellie Girard says
I made this for the first time today. I followed the recipe exactly with one exception…..i boiled a few fingerling potatoes for 5 to 10 minutes, then added them to the beans. We thoroughly enjoyed them!
Nicole Durham says
Oh I absolutely LOVE the idea of adding potatoes to these green beans! What a fantastic way to stretch it into a more filling side dish!
Glad you liked enjoyed them!